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Giving back is an enriching part of our daily lives. Now, thanks to David Allen, people can continue giving back even after they pass on. After being a part of the Madison Foundation for nine years, he has returned to work on The Heritage Society. A project that he created himself, The Heritage Society allows people to donate their money toward the betterment of Madison by naming the Madison Foundation as a beneficiary in their will or trust. “Thanks to Dave, and his vision, The Heritage Society will have an extremely positive, long-term effect on our quality of life in Madison, now and in the future,” said his nominator.

Like many Beacon Award winners, Elizabeth Abernathy is motivated by the idea of inspiring a younger generation. What’s unusual is that this dedicated volunteer and role model is a senior in high school. Elizabeth is an officer in the Guilford High School SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) group and a co-chair of the Guilford DAY (Developmental Assets for Youth) program, as well as serving on the student advisory board of the Guilford Youth & Family Services Agency. As a regular volunteer at Yale New Haven Hospital, she particularly enjoys the Pediatrics Unit. A pew minister at St. George in Guilford, she also coordinates collections for the homeless, and true to her mission, encourages her CCD students to pitch in.

“Mary has had a special part of the East Haven community,” said one of her nominators. From her time as the president of the East Haven Chamber of Commerce to the time she has spent putting together the East Haven Fall Festival for 20 years where she was one of the original committee members, Mary Cacace has devoted much of her life to the betterment of East Haven. She has been volunteering since the early 1980s and many attribute her to the start of the annual tree lighting in East Haven. She is now involved with the Friends of the Library. “To me it’s easy to volunteer,” she says. “I just feel that it’s something that’s necessary to do.”

Community Dining Room (CDR) Executive Director Judith Barron’s day job is admirable in so many ways—her organization not only feeds those in need, both in the Branford dining room and through take-out meals and delivery, but actively creates a sense of community through picnics, family activities, and the simple dignity of a shared meal. And that’s where the rest of Judy’s work begins. Outside of CDR, she’s a softball and cheerleading coach, a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House, a volunteer for Special Olympics, and much more. When asked the obvious—where do you find the time?—her answer is simple: “If not me, then who?”

Since 2008, Connie Fusco has been an active member of the Schiller Shoreline Institute for Lifelong Learning (SSILL), of which she is now the president. SSILL helps seniors stay active and alert by offering programs to adults who are older than 55. She also volunteers for American Association of University Women- Shoreline Branch and Guilford Youth and Family Services. Her nominator said, “Dr. Fusco uses her knowledge and experiences to improve the lives of others.”

Nelson Bernabucci, 93, greatly enjoyed last year’s Christmas Dinner at the Branford Senior Center, held each year to let the community express gratitude to its elders. Nelson was there as a volunteer, serving guests. This World War II veteran operates on the philosophy “it is better to serve others than be served,” and it shows through his lifetime of service in the Rotary Club (he’s a past president of the Rotary Club of Branford). Upon returning from World War II Navy service in New Guinea and the Phillipines, he became a business teacher in the Hamden Pubic School System, later founding the Branford Tutoring Service and, in 1965, the Branford Hall School. Currently, he’s still active with Rotary and, with his wife Louise, volunteering with the Branford Community Dining Room.

Emelia Bisson has a pretty impressive résumé for a high school freshman. Last year, along with Lindsey Valentino, Lauren Valentino, and Abby Amara, the four then-middle schoolers organized the Shoreline March for Our Lives following the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The event drew hundreds to Old Saybrook, including U.S. Congressman Joe Courtney. It wasn’t her first effort to take an active role in her community; she started volunteering in the 5th grade with Buddy Baseball and Basketball, teaming up with a differently abled partner, a role she’s continued at Valley Regional High School. She also volunteers at Kirtland Commons, Deep River’s senior housing facility, to serve meals and brighten days of her elders.

North Haven shines just a little bit brighter thanks to the work done by Cindy Golia. As treasurer of the North Haven Garden Club, she does a tremendous amount of work beautifying the town with her gardening. She also volunteers at elementary schools, Connecticut Hospice, and the Building Character Education Program at the middle school. The person who nominated her said that she “will always go above and beyond in any tasks she undertakes.”

The shoreline is a much better place thanks to the hard work of Bill Hawke, who has been giving back through volunteer work for more than 30 years. One of his nominators said that “Bill is one of our most sincere, hardworking patrons and interacts with each and every person who enters our library with kindness.” Bill has spent time volunteering for Middlesex Hospital, Essex Elementary School, Essex Library Association, First Congregational Church of Essex, FISH (Friends In Service Here), and Ancient Order of Essex Weeders.

Melissa Carney lost her vision to cancer at age two, which many would find to be a challenge. Instead, Melissa has found it a motivation to seek new challenges and share the lessons she learns from her successes with her colleagues. Starting as a rider at High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, she progressed from rider to mentor. She found her involvement with the National Federation of the Blind activities so rewarding she helped found a state-level student division in Connecticut, and another in Massachusetts. Believing that an impairment shouldn’t impair her, this college student will spend a semester in Washington, D.C., learning how to be an advocate at the national level.

Many veterans who return home suffer from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) and don’t know how to deal with it. Raymond Hayes wanted to help, so he used his lifelong passion for sailing as a way to help local veterans suffering from the aftermath of war. He is the founder of Pay4Ward: Veterans Helping Veterans, which helps veterans manage their PTSD through sailing, or as he puts it, “they can expect a day off from their own stress.” When interviewed for Valley Courier’s Person of the Week in 2016, he also said, “As long as I can help even one person, I am going to be doing this work.”

How many people do you know with a key to the city? Gerri Giordano was given a key to North Haven in the ‘80s for her dedication to the town, and she has remained dedicated to making the community a better place to this day. Gerri has been an active member of the North Haven community since she and her husband moved to town more than 50 years ago, starting when her son’s North Haven High School football team was struggling with fundraising, a situation she quickly fixed. She joined the North Haven Garden Club in 1976 and continues the club’s beautification efforts around town. She’s also answered the call to help with North Haven’s bicentennial celebrations and ongoing conservation efforts around town.

For Bo Huhn, preventing youth substance abuse and helping children live in a healthy environment is the mission of his work. Through Guilford D.A.Y. (Developmental Assets for Youth), with which he is actively involved, he is able to help youth by educating the public on how to prevent substance abuse in young people and talking to legislators about the state’s marijuana laws. “He is a true leader and visionary for our coalition, always taking initiative and brainstorming ways to effectively target youth substance use in town,” said his nominator. He is also involved with Lifelinx, which helps people recover from their addictions.

“Hope” is a powerful word in the Kelley household. Jean Kelley’s son, Brian, was born in 1988 and diagnosed at age six with adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD), a hereditary disease estimated to affect one in every 20,000 boys and one that rapidly steals away sight, speech, and movement and can result in severe disability or death if not treated. Jean and her husband Jack Kelley founded Brian’s Hope, a non-profit dedicated to supporting awareness and prevention of ALD. Jean recently found success in Hartford passing legislation that adds ALD screening to newborns and is now taking the fight nationwide.